Sailor kicked out of Navy for slapping girl’s bottom

AN underwater warfare expert has been dismissed from the Navy after he slapped a 17-yearold sailor’s bottom during a basketball game.

Leading Seaman Andrew Hallimond, 39, claimed he was paying the teenager a ‘compliment’ for playing well. A court martial heard he became obsessed with the sailor, made inappropriate comments ‘on a daily basis’ and ‘could not keep his hands off her’.

He was found guilty of sexual assault following a trial at Bulford Military Court in Wiltshire and was sentenced to nine months’ detention. He was also placed on the sexual offenders register. Edinburgh-born Hallimond, who was attached to submarine-hunting frigate HMS Richmond, told the court he liked to encourage ‘banter’ as it could ‘break down barriers’ with young recruits.

His victim said touching and abuse happened so often she ‘expected it whenever she came into work’ at Devonport naval base in Plymouth .

The court heard that on one occasion Hallimond used a toilet in the victim’s room and later told her: ‘It’s nice to see you have red underwear in your drawer’.